Modelling telescopic boom: The plane case: Part I

We shall briefly present an idea for the modelling flexible telescopic boom using a non-linear finite element method. The boom is assembled by Reissner’s geometrically exact beam elements. The sliding boom parts are coupled together by the element, where a slide-spring is coupled to beam with the aid of a master–slave technique. This technique yields system equations without algebraic constraints. Telescopic movement is achieved by the rod element with varying length and the connector element expressing the chains. The structural dynamic calculation model is converted to first order ordinary differential equations by adding nodal velocities to state variable, which is solved by the Rosenbrock-W integration method.